Body positivity is a widely used term these days. I’m all for it, and I think that it’s great. I love seeing inclusion of different body sizes as being normal, instead of what I grew up with in the 1990s and 2000s, which was ‘skinny’ as the norm and the societal pressure that we should all aspire to look one way. Because to be honest, the majority of women in North America are not a size 0 – 3. Or even a size 7. And we don't all come in one shape (i.e. there’s apple, pear, hourglass).
But then I wondered what body positivity actually means and asked myself “am I body positive?” And realistically, how many people are body positive?
Then I came across this video about the complicated world of body positivity, from one of my favourite fitness YouTube bloggers, Cassey Ho, of Blogilates. You can watch the video here.
According to some top results that I found in Google, body positivity is a social movement that advocates the acceptance of all bodies, and that all people should have a positive body image. Self-acceptance and self-love are traits that someone who is body positive, should have.
I wondered if I was actually a “body positive” person in the context of the word because there are days when I don’t feel 100% positive about my body – seriously! My journey in fitness and nutrition began 10 years ago simply because I had a goal to lose weight. It was in my early 20’s and didn’t have any certifications or knowledge that I do now. For me, it was about how I looked. While that’s not the case now, and my goals and intentions have shifted to become more health-focused, my physical aesthetics are still important to me.
According to the movement, you can lose weight and still be body positive if the reason is for health and self-improvement (which I’m all about) but it’s not supposed to be for physical aesthetics (which part of my reason is also for that, as I like to look and feel a certain way in my own body).
I also didn’t think I was 100% positive about my body because I’ve had random days where I’d look in the mirror and wonder “Why do I have this side-breast bra bulge? It’s so annoying.” Or “Why are my thighs so shapely and jiggly even though my shoulders are so defined.” Or “Why do I look so pudgy and bloated today and feel like a whale crammed into my gym pants?” Tell me if you agree with that last one?
I’m human! I didn’t spend every single day with positive thoughts about my body and have total self-acceptance.
Is it realistic for all of us to think we’re body positive because we’re not always going to feel positive or happy or over the rainbow about our body? It’s not always black and white. In the wise words of T.I. and Rihanna: “It ain’t that black and white, it has an area the shade of gray”.
If you struggle with being body positive, then that’s where being body neutral comes in.
I learned about this concept from my FIT CHICKS Academy mentors, Laura and Amanda.
According to some of the top results in Google, body neutral is meant to move us away from self-hate, without pressure of having to love our body. Instead, it's about working toward a middle-ground of having respect for our bodies, without giving too much energy to positive or negative thoughts about it.
This aligns well with me. I exude so much gratitude, respect, and thanks to what my body’s capabilities are and what it does for me, without leaning towards being either completely positive or completely negative. It means that I think and believe I’m strong, fit, healthy, and my body carries me through daily life to walk, run, and endure physical and mental challenges. I’ve also accepted my side-breast bra bulge, I don’t completely love it or hate it.
Do you align with being body positive, body neutral, or struggle to be body neutral?
If you struggle to be body positive (or even body neutral) then here’s my question for you! What statement would take you from being body negative to body neutral?
For example, let’s say you decide to start a fitness routine but you feel challenged or are having a difficult time. If we feel negative about our body, we might think “I suck” or “I’m so out of shape so why even bother?” Instead, can we re-frame that thought from being body negative to body neutral by swapping it with gratitude? For example, can we think “I have a healthy body” or “I have a functioning body” or “I have a body that can move/walk/jog” because it could be a completely different situation if we weren’t able to do these things. You don’t need to think rainbows and unicorns toward your body but you can bring it a neural place where you acknowledge your body and its role in your life.
Our mindset is everything.
So while I am filled with joy that I’m seeing a lot of self-acceptance and love individual and unique body types, I don’t think I fall into the body positive category (toward myself).
Whether you’re body positive or body neutral, there’s no right or wrong. Kudos to you if you’re body positive! I personally have not met many women that fall into this category. The majority of women I know would be considered part of the body neutral category. If you struggle with negative feelings and thoughts toward yourself, then my hope is that today’s post inspires you to reflect on how you think and feel about yourself, and has taught you how to bring yourself to a place of being neutral.
Yours in best health,
Jasmin 💚